Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
Br J Nutr. 2019 Oct 28;122(8):910-918. doi: 10.1017/S0007114519001788.
Folic acid (FA) supplementation is recommended in the periconceptional period, for the prevention of neural tube defects. Limited data are available on the folate status of New Zealand (NZ) pregnant women and its association with FA supplementation intake. Objectives were to examine the relationship between plasma folate (PF) and reported FA supplement use at 15 weeks' gestation and to explore socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with PF. We used data and blood samples from NZ participants of the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints cohort study. Healthy nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy (n 1921) were interviewed and blood samples collected. PF was analysed via microbiological assay. Of the participants, 73 % reported taking an FA supplement at 15 weeks' gestation - of these, 79 % were taking FA as part of/alongside a multivitamin supplement. Of FA supplement users, 56 % reported consuming a daily dose of ≥800 μg; 39 % reported taking less than 400 µg/d. Mean PF was significantly higher in women reporting FA supplementation (54·6 (se 1·5) nmol/l) v. no FA supplementation (35·1 (se 1·6) nmol/l) (P<0·0001). Reported daily FA supplement dose and PF were significantly positively correlated (r 0·41; P<0·05). Younger maternal age, Pacific and Maori ethnicity and obesity were negatively associated with PF levels; vegetarianism was positively associated with PF. Reported FA supplement dose was significantly associated with PF after adjustment for socio-demographic, lifestyle confounders and multivitamin intake. The relationship observed between FA supplementation and PF demonstrates that self-reported intake is a reliable proxy for FA supplement use in this study population.
叶酸（FA）补充剂被推荐在围孕期使用，以预防神经管缺陷。新西兰（NZ）孕妇的叶酸状况及其与 FA 补充剂摄入的关系的相关数据有限。本研究的目的是检验 15 周妊娠时血浆叶酸（PF）与报告的 FA 补充剂使用之间的关系，并探讨与 PF 相关的社会人口统计学和生活方式因素。我们使用了 NZ 参与者的 Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints 队列研究的数据和血液样本。研究纳入了 1921 例健康的初产妇和单胎妊娠，对其进行了访谈并采集了血液样本。通过微生物分析方法检测 PF。在参与者中，73%的人在 15 周妊娠时报告服用了 FA 补充剂 - 其中 79%的人服用 FA 补充剂是作为多种维生素补充剂的一部分/同时服用的。在服用 FA 补充剂的人中，56%的人报告每天服用剂量≥800 μg；39%的人报告每天服用剂量少于 400μg。报告服用 FA 补充剂的女性的平均 PF 明显高于未服用 FA 补充剂的女性（54.6（se 1.5）nmol/L 比 35.1（se 1.6）nmol/L）（P<0.0001）。报告的每日 FA 补充剂量与 PF 呈显著正相关（r 0.41；P<0.05）。母亲年龄较小、太平洋岛民和毛利族裔以及肥胖与 PF 水平呈负相关；素食与 PF 呈正相关。调整社会人口统计学、生活方式混杂因素和多种维生素摄入量后，报告的 FA 补充剂量与 PF 显著相关。FA 补充剂与 PF 之间的关系表明，在本研究人群中，自我报告的摄入量是 FA 补充剂使用的可靠替代指标。
